Make the most out of Summer 2014

Here's how to have fun before the kids head back to school.

By By Andrea Waguespack

on July 18, 2014 11:44 AM

Photo: ROBERT MIHOVIL, Photographer

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Friday & Saturday, August 1 & 2Concerts on the beachBands on
the Sand, the summer concert series at Moody Gardens' Palm Beach,
launches this weekend. First up: alternative rockers Velvet Punch and
country crooner Jared Waggoner. The all-ages concerts, which will be
held Friday and Saturday nights through Aug. 9, conclude each night with
fireworks over Offatts Bayou. 6-10 p.m.; 1 Hope Blvd. in Galveston.
Tickets: $12; moodygardens.org. less

Friday & Saturday, August 1 & 2
Concerts on the beach
Bands on the Sand, the summer concert series at Moody Gardens' Palm Beach, launches this weekend. First up: alternative rockers Velvet Punch and ... more

Saturdays through Sept. 6Young Writers WorkshopDiscovery Green pairs up again with Writers in the Schools and HPL to host Houston's only free writing workshop for kids. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturdays through Sept. 6; Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St.; FREE; discoverygreen.com/1087380. less

Saturdays through Sept. 6
Young Writers WorkshopDiscovery Green pairs up again with Writers in the Schools and HPL to host Houston's only free writing workshop for kids. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturdays through Sept. ... more

Ongoing Pirates Bay The Baytown parks are open 11-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Tickets: $20; $15 for guests under 48 inches. Located at 5300
East Road in Baytown; baytown.org/piratesbay. less

Ongoing
Pirates Bay
The Baytown parks are open 11-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Tickets: $20; $15 for guests under 48 inches. Located at 5300 East Road in Baytown; ... more

Through Aug. 3'Pippi Longstocking: The Family Musical'Pippi
Longstocking lives alone (with a monkey!) in her wacky house, Villa
Villekulla. See what trouble she gets into in this slapstick musical for
the whole family. On opening day, the theater will be hosting
Piptastic, family-friendly gala, benefiting MST’s Education and Outreach
programs. It will include the performance of "Pippi Longstocking."
Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.; Main Street Theater
at Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd. For tickets information, visit mainstreettheater.com. less

Through Aug. 3
'Pippi Longstocking: The Family Musical'
Pippi Longstocking lives alone (with a monkey!) in her wacky house, Villa Villekulla. See what trouble she gets into in this slapstick musical for the ... more

Saturdays though Sept. 1'Extreme Bugs'This weekend, the
Houston Zoo will begin a summerlong salute to all things creepy crawly
with the opening of an exhibit featuring 13 huge animatronic insects,
including a ladybug with a 10-foot wingspan and a water-spraying beetle
that is 60 times larger than the real thing. Visitors to "Extreme Bugs!"
walk through a backyard environment filled with interactive (turn a
handle to light up a firefly) and realistic-looking insects. 9 a.m.-7
p.m., 6200 Hermann Park Drive. Tickets: $3.95 plus zoo admission ($15,
$11 for ages 2-11); houstonzoo.org. less

Saturdays though Sept. 1
'Extreme Bugs'
This weekend, the Houston Zoo will begin a summerlong salute to all things creepy crawly with the opening of an exhibit featuring 13 huge animatronic insects, ... more

Through Tuesday, August 12Family Comedy & Magic Show (FOR ALL AGES)Entertainers
Ted Schwank (pictured) & Carter Blackburn perform a high-energy adventure
full of live magic, illusions and comedy on Tuesdays and Saturdays at noon and 2 p.m.; Houston Improv, 7620 Katy Freeway;
Tickets: $10-17; improv.com. less

Through Tuesday, August 12
Family Comedy & Magic Show (FOR ALL AGES)
Entertainers Ted Schwank (pictured) & Carter Blackburn perform a high-energy adventure full of live magic, illusions and comedy on Tuesdays ... more

Ongoing Sea World Hop in the car for a day trip to Sea World in... Photo-4706699.89965 - Houston Chronicle

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Through Monday, Sept. 1'Facing Mars' Could you survive a trip to the planet Mars? 'Facing Mars' is an interactive and educational exhibit that will ignite your imagination about the future of space exploration. Learn about the surface of the Red Planet, along with the psychological and physical challenges the explorers can face. Johnson space center, 1601 NASA Pkwy. Tickets: visit the website for current pricing at spacecenter.org.

Through Monday, Sept. 1
'Facing Mars'
Could you survive a trip to the planet Mars? 'Facing Mars' is an interactive and educational exhibit that will ignite your imagination about the future of space exploration. ... more

OngoingChildren's Museum of HoustonKids can web a fun summer at the Children's Museum of Houston with exhibits including 'Arena of Awesomeness: Safe Archery' and a celebration of Spider-Man (pictured.) 1500 Binz; (713) 522-1138; cmhouston.org. less

Ongoing
Children's Museum of Houston
Kids can web a fun summer at the Children's Museum of Houston with exhibits including 'Arena of Awesomeness: Safe Archery' and a celebration of Spider-Man (pictured.) 1500 ... more

Through Friday, Aug. 22Cool Nights at Houston ZooCheck out creatures big and small while enjoying the cooler weather. The facility will stay open until 8:30 p.m., and will include themed evenings and exhibits. 6200 Hermann Park Dr., (713) 533-6500. Tickets: visit the website for the most current ticket information at houstonzoo.org. less

Through Friday, Aug. 22
Cool Nights at Houston Zoo
Check out creatures big and small while enjoying the cooler weather. The facility will stay open until 8:30 p.m., and will include themed evenings and exhibits. ... more

OngoingWet 'n' Wild SplashTownSplashTown will debut three
new attractions this season. The FlowRider challenges guests to body
board on waves moving at 35 mph. Also new: a five-story raft ride called
the Big Kahuna. The park is open 10-7 p.m. daily through July 31, and 10-8 p.m. daily though August 24. Located at 21300 I-45. Tickets: $38.99; $30.99
for guests under 48 inches. Discounted tickets available online at wetnwildsplashtown.com. less

Ongoing
Wet 'n' Wild SplashTown
SplashTown will debut three new attractions this season. The FlowRider challenges guests to body board on waves moving at 35 mph. Also new: a five-story raft ride called the ... more